Fund our young people to serve communities

The Prime Minister has said that this is the most important election in a generation, but what does the future hold for those sometimes described as a "lost generation"?

There have been many initiatives to support young people on the brink of long-term unemployment, such as Backing Young Britain and the Future Jobs Fund. But perhaps we need to think more radically.

In the US, Barack Obama has seized the opportunity to tackle key public challenges through service. The Serve America Act was billed as offering millions of Americans the opportunity to serve their country, tackling challenges in education, housing and the environment. Programmes include City Year, which brings together 18- to 25-year-olds from all backgrounds to spend a year serving the community. Every day they operate in schools as tutors, mentors and role models, helping to improve children's attendance, behaviour and performance in maths and English.